Catamenial pad holding device



Aug. 17, 1965 I K. STEEG CATAMENIAL PAD HOLDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 19, 1964 INVENTOR A fl7HE/CV/VE 672-256,

axu i rd ATTORNEKS K. STEEG Aug. 17, 1965 CATAMENIAL PAD HOLDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March l9, 1964 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,200,460 CATAMENIAL PAD HDLDTNG DEVHIE Katherine Steeg, 36 Wooding Sh, Bristol, Conn. Filed Mar. 19, 1964-, Ser. No. 353,120 8 Claims. (Cl. 24-81) My invention relates generally to an apparatus for fastening an object to an article of apparel, and more specifically to a method and device for attaching the end flaps of a catamenial pad to an undergarment.

Previously, devices used to position the catamenial pad were awkward and difiicult to properly adjust. Belts were often employed, shifting position and causing discomfort to the wearer. Safety pins have commonly been used as an improvision, thus causing damage to the undergarments. Underpants have been devised with holders permanently attached, but this necessitated the availability of an extra pair whenever a change was needed. Thus, there has been a need for holding devices which are small enough to be carried in a handbag or in a packaged pad, versatile enough to allow the application or removal of a catarnenial pad in a minimum of time with a minimum of effort, and which allow easy adjustment to a proper fitting without increasing damage to the undergarmen s.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device for securing the end flaps of a catamenial pad to an article of underclothing to secure the diaper in position and to provide easy adjustability.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holding device which is separate from the apparel and is small enough to be easily carried in a handbag for use in an unexpected emergency.

Another object is to provide a holding device separate from the apparel which allows a change of underclothing or pad at will.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of my invention,

FIG. 2 is-a partial top view thereof,

FIG. 3 is an end sectional view along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view,

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of another embodiment of my invention,

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of my invention, and

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the third embodiment.

The holding device which I have illustrated may be made of any suitable substance but preferably comprises a resilient plastic material.

One preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 inclusive, comprises a base 1 of reasonably thin material, the upper half of which contains a semi-circular aperture 2 with a serrated edge 3. From the bottom of the base 1, centered on the longitudinal axis and extending upward along the base, covering /3 of the total length of the base, is a shallow groove 4. The groove has a uniform Width of about /3 that of the base and tapers to the surface at the end adjacent aperture 2.

Near the bottom of the base 1, and centered on the longitudinal axis of the base, is a cylindrical stem 5, extending a short distance outward from the base and having at its end a circular knob-like element 7 which is wider than the stem 5 and has a rounded edge. Through the stem 5 is an aperture 6 of the same width as the 3,2dlh46fl Patented Aug. 17, 1965 groove 4, extending along the groove 4 and outward to the end of stem 5.

A flexible cap 8 of like material is made to fit snugly over the element 7, the edge thereof being formed to wrap around the element 7. Cap 8 includes a tab 12 for peeling the cap 3 from the element 7.

The cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 shows the holding device in use. The end flap 9 of the catamenial pad 11 is passed through the aperture 2, along the groove 4, and through the aperture 6. Since the end flap 9 is usually of a gauze material, it is easily gripped by the serrated edge 3. t

The holding device, with the cylindrical stem 5 at the bottom, is placed inside the underpants with the cap 8 removed and the element 7 positioned away from the body. The holding device is then moved to the desired position, and the cap 8 is placed over the element 7, with material 1% of the underpants being secured between the cap and element, as shown in FIG. 1. The pressure exerted by the cap 8 on the end flap 9 is sufficient, with the aid of the serrated edge 3, to hold the pad in place.

A second embodiment of my invention is shown in FIG. 5 and is in construction similar to that shown in FIGS. l4 with the exception that the semi-circular aperture 2a is turned around such that the serrated edge 3a is adjacent the end opposite the cylindrical stem 5a on the base in. FIG. 5 shows this second embodiment in use. The holding device is positioned inside the underpants with the cylindrical stem 5:: at the top. The end flap 9a of the catamenial pad 11a is passed through the aperture 2a, along the groove 4a and through the aperture provided in the cylindrical stem 5a. The material of the underpants 1th: is clamped between the cap 8a and the circular element 7a, and the end flap 9a is gripped by the pressure from the edge of the cap 8a and by the serrated edge 3a. The principle feature of this embodiment is that the holding device is fastened to the underpants at its top, thus preventing the device from having a tendency to swing about, as the moment arm would be rotating from the top of the device instead of from the bottom.

A third embodiment of my invention is shown in FIG. 6. It comprises a base If) having the cylindrical stem 5b and circular knob-like element 7b positioned at one end, and the semi-circular aperture 2b with its serrated edge 3b positioned at the other end. The serrated edge 3b may be in the form of a metallic insert of thin material to enable a firm grip on the end flap. The crosssectional view of FIG. 7 shows this third embodiment in use. The holding device is positioned inside the underpants with the circular element 715 at the top. The end flap 9b of the catamenial pad 11b is passed through the aperture 2b. The serrated edge 3b is sufficient to hold it in position. The material of the underpants ldb is clamped between the cap 8/) and the circular element 7h. To assure non-slippage 0f the end flap 9b, its gauze material may be extended over the circular element 712, thereby clamping it between the circular element 7b and the material of the underpants 1% when the cap 3:) is installed.

In practice, two holding devices would be used, one in the front and one in the back of the underpants, in order to secure the catamenial pad at both ends. They may be constructed small enough to be easily carried in a handbag at all times, their availability making it possible to easily apply a pad at the unexpected moment. Packaged pads for coin-operated dispensers may also each contain a pair of holding devices.

Features include the facility for easy adjustment to the desired comfort of the wearer, inexpensive construction, and no damage to the material of the underpants.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that many 3 modifications of the disclosed embodiment of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device for holding an article to a fabric comprising a substantially fiat elongated base, means defining a first aperture in one end of said base and extending transversely therethrough to allow passage of said article,

fabric gripping means comprising a gripping cap having rounded edges and a coinciding element for engaging said gripping cap and tightly positioning said fabric therebetween, a stem of smaller diameter than said element and having said element attached at one end for holding said element away from said elongated base, said stern positioned at the end opposite said first aperture on the elongated base, said stem extending outwardly from a flat side of said base, means defining a second aperture passing through said stern, said second aperture being of sufficient dimensions to accommodate an associated portion of said article, and said second aperture being so positioned with respect to said element as to allow said associated portion of said article when passed there through to be frictionally held therein by pressure imparted by the rim of said gripping cap upon engagement of said gripping cap with said element.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said second aperture is bounded by the undersurface of said element, its inner surfaces within said stem, and the outer surface of said fiat side, and wherein said second aperture extends along the longitudinal axis of said base.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said device further comprises further gripping means associated with said first aperture, said further gripping means comprising a serrated portion extending into said first aperture and so positioned as to grip the portion of said article in said first aperture.

4. A holding device according to claim 1 wherein said gripping cap is comprised of a flexible material and is provided on its edge with a removal tab, whereby said gripping cap may be easily seated and removed from said element.

5. A device for holding the end flap of a catamenial pad in position against an article of underclothing, said device comprising a substantially flat elongated base, means defining a first aperture in one end of said base and extending transversely therethrough to allow passage of one end flap of said catamenial pad therethrough, fabric gripping means comprising a gripping cap having rounded edges and a coinciding element for engaging said gripping cap and tightly positioning the fabric of said article of underclothing therebetween to secure said device With its longitudinal axis in a vertical position, the device being positioned between said article and the body of the wearer, a stern of smaller diameter than said element and having said element attatched at one end for holding said element away from said elongated base, said stem positioned at the end opposite said first aperture on the elongated base, said stem extending outwardly from a fiat side of said base, means defining a second aperture passing through said stem, said second aperture being of sufiicient dimensions to accommodate an associated portion of said end flap, and said second aperture being so positioned with respect to said element as to allow said associated portion when passed therethrough to be frictionally held therein by pressure imparted by the rim of said gripping cap uponengagement of said gripping cap with said element.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein said second aperture is bounded by the undersur face of said element, its inner surfaces within said stem, and the outer surface of said flat side, and wherein said second aperture extends along the longitudinal axis of said base.

7. A device according to claim 5 wherein said device further comprises further gripping means associated with said first aperture, said further gripping means comprising a serrated portion extending into said aperture and so positioned as to grip the portion of said end flap in said first aperture.

8. A holding device according to claim 5 wherein said gripping cap is comprised of a flexible material and is provided on its edge with a removal tab, whereby said gripping cap may be easily seated and removed from said element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,593,327 7/26 Callan. 1,849,258 3/32 Washburn. 2,064,740 12/36 Fontaine 24-264 X 2,793,642, 5/57 Andruhovici 128284 3,058,518 10/62 Houseman 160402 X FOREIGN PATENTS 16,920 1896 Great Britain.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR HOLDING AN ARTICLE TO A FABRIC COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT ELONGATED BASE, MEANS DEFINING A FIRST APERTURE IN ONE END OF SAID BASE AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THERETHROUGH TO ALLOW PASSAGE OF SAID ARTICLE, FABRIC GRIPPING MEANS COMPRISING A GRIPPING CAP HAVING ROUNDED EDGES AND A COINCIDING ELEMENT FOR ENGAGING SAID GRIPPING CAP AND TIGHTLY POSITIONING SAID FABRIC THEREBETWEEN, A STEM OF SMALLER DIAMETER THAN SAID ELEMENT AND HAVING SAID ELEMENT ATTACHED AT ONE END FOR HOLDING SAID ELEMENT AWAY FROM SAID ELONGATED BASE, SAID STEM POSITIONED AT THE END OPPOSITE SAID FIRST APERTURE ON THE ELONGATED BASE, SAID STEM EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM A FLAT SIDE OF SAID BASE, MEANS DEFINING A SECOND APERTURE PASSING THROUGH SAID STEM, SAID SECONE APERTURE BEING OF SUFFICIENT DIMENSIONS TO ACCOMMODATE AN ASSOCIATED PORTION OF SAID ARTICLE, AND SAID SECOND APERTURE BEING SO POSITIONED WITH RESPECT TO SAID ELEMENT AS TO ALLOW SAID ASSOCIATED PORTION OF SAID ARTICLE WHEN PASSED THERETHROUGH TO BE FRICTIONALLY HELD THEREIN BY PRESSURE IMPARTED BY THE RIM OF SAID GRIPPING CAP UPON ENGAGEMENT OF SAID GRIPPING CAP WITH SAID ELEMENT. 